Susan Collins’ Approval Sinks with Maine Voters

Troy Jackson leads incumbent Republican Susan Collins by 4 points, according to new polling released Wednesday by Senate Majority PAC, which also found Collins in a notably worse position today than she was in her previous reelection campaign in 2020. 

The poll, conducted in late July by Hart Research, found Collins is struggling with Maine voters, as her job performance and personal favorability continue to sink. 

• More than half of Maine voters (52%) disapprove of the job Collins has done as senator. 

• This contrasts with Jackson, who currently has a 47% favorable/35% unfavorable rating. 

• 55% of voters said that Jackson’s background in Maine and core messages appealed to them a “great deal” or “fair amount.” 

Collins has had a significant drop in standing since 2020 when she ran against Sara Gideon. At a similar point in the 2020 election, Collins and Gideon were tied in polling conducted by Hart Research. 

The incumbent senator also faces a much more hostile political environment than she did in 2020.  Donald Trump is a much bigger drag on Collins’ reelection prospects today than he was in 2020. Like every battleground state this cycle, Trump’s approval ratings have continued to falter amidst his unpopular policies on tariffs, continuation of the Iran War, and rising health care costs. Currently, 61% of Mainers disapprove of Trump as president – 6 points worse than at this point in the 2020 race. By an 18-point margin, 54% to 36%, Mainers would prefer to see a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate to serve as a check and balance on Trump rather than a Republican majority to help pass his policies and agenda. 

The 2026 Senate Majority PAC poll also found that Collins is more vulnerable to criticisms of her record. The negatives that are likely to be litigated against each candidate in the coming months are more powerful against Collins than against Jackson, and Jackson’s lead expands to 8 points at the end of the poll after the airing of the negatives on both sides.  

“Susan Collins is the second most unpopular sitting senator, whose record of ‘being concerned’ entails never having the guts to buck Trump and put Maine first when it counts,” says Senate Majority PAC Spokesperson Lauren French. “Mainers have been pushing for real leadership for years, and Troy Jackson is ready to step up to bring down living costs, ensure health care is affordable for all, and secure Maine’s future for all families.” 

Senate Majority PAC has already announced $33 million in television reservations in Maine, with an additional digital reservation that will keep our campaigns hitting Collins for failing to stop rising costs, health care cuts, and for her own personal corruption on the air through Election Day. 

Affiliated nonprofits Majority Forward and Duty and Honor have already run ads in Maine throughout 2025 and 2026. 

This survey was conducted by Hart Research from July 27 – August 1 and included 802 likely Maine voters in the November general election for U.S. Senate. The margin of error is +/- 3.5% percentage points. Read the memo.